Al-Jahiz Celebrated at the Cairo International Book Fair

KFAS and 1001 Inventions present “Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals” Children’s Book in Cairo

Cairo, 27 January 2018: The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS) and 1001 Inventions launched today “Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals” show at the Cairo International Book Fair.

The unique event at this year’s edition of the Cairo Book Fair honours the 9th century explorer Al-Jahiz and highlights the importance of looking after animals and the environment to keep a balance in nature.

In addition to being a famous writer of prose, Al-Jahiz is the author of an encyclopedic work about animals. Kitab al-Hayawan, or The Book of Animals, composed of seven volumes describing many varieties of animals, is probably the first book to be written in the Arabic language about the topic.

The event features the new children’s book 'Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals' presenting the animal kingdom through the eyes of the 9th century explorer. The first-of-its-kind children’s book features Al-Jahiz’s story together with interesting facts about animals. Full of dazzling illustrations, witty stories and proverbs, the book takes readers on a wondrous journey of discovery.

The family-oriented engaging show includes hands-on workshops and science demonstrations. It also features screenings of the new short film about Al-Jahiz '1001 Inventions and the Book of Animals', produced by 1001 Inventions in partnership with Al-Ain Zoo.

Al-Jahiz show is part of a new global educational campaign by 1001 Inventions that aims to create awareness about the dangers surrounding the natural world and prompt positive action – it’s a journey to draw lessons from the past to help safeguard the future. This campaign builds on the success of other 1001 Inventions campaigns around the world.

EVENT IS FREE OF CHARGE

Al-Jahiz and the Book of Animals

Dates and Location

27 January to 10 February 2018
Daily from 10am to 7pm
Cairo Fair Grounds
Hall 19 – “Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science” Stand

About KFAS

The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) is a private non-profit organization with over 40 years history of supporting the advancement of science and technology in Kuwait. KFAS operations are overseen by a Board of Directors chaired by His Highness, the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. It is financially supported by Kuwaiti private shareholding companies through their generous contributions that currently amount to 1% of their annual net profit.

KFAS mission is to stimulate, support, and invest in initiatives and human resources that contribute to building a strong science, technology, and innovation culture and to fostering an enabling environment. The initiatives include improving public understanding of science; strengthening innovation and research capacity and enhancing an enabling environment; supporting the gifted and talented; translating knowledge into innovation; and nurturing a solid foundation for a national knowledge-based economy by developing the private sector’s scientific, technological.

About 1001 Inventions

1001 Inventions is an award-winning, British based organization that creates international educational campaigns and engaging transmedia productions aiming to raise awareness of the contributions to science, technology and culture from the Golden Age of Muslim Civilisation.

1001 Inventions has engaged with over 350 million people across the globe working with a network of international partners, including UNESCO, National Geographic and leading academics to produce interactive exhibits, short films, live shows, books and classroom learning materials that are being used by hundreds of thousands of educators around the world.

"Full name Abū ʿUthman ʿAmr ibn Baḥr al-Kinānī al-Baṣrī (776-868-9) was an Arab prose writer and author of works of literature, Mu'tazili theology, and politico-religious polemics. His great work, Kitab al-Hayawan (Book of the Animals) is an encyclopedia of seven volumes of anecdotes, poetic descriptions and proverbs describing over 350 varieties of animals."

"The Kitab Al-Hayawan was the object of many studies, and had great influence upon later scientists from Muslim Civilisation, and via them upon European thinkers (especially upon Lamarck and Darwin). And it became the source for later books on zoology. Al-Jahiz's many sentences are quoted by Ikhwan al-Safa and Ibn Miskawayh, and many passages are quoted by Zakariyya' al-Qazwini (1203-1282) in his ‘Aja'ib al-Makhluqat, and by Mustawfi al-Qazwini (1281- ?) in his Nuzkat al-Qulub; and al-Damiri in his Hayat al-Hayawan', and still continues to inspire the scientists today."